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Despite the many books on preaching, bad homiletical models of expository preaching still exist. They come from various sources and are influenced by a variety of factors. Often it is not the model itself that is at fault, but the use made of it. They include:
1. The Puritans
With ...
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When interviewing a potential pastor, what are the ten most important questions that you would ask? I suspect that in most churches the gap between the actual questions and the best questions would go a long way to explain the particular weakness of the particular church. The questions we ask reveal our hearts just as much as the answers reveal the heart of the potential pastor. Here, I believe, is what I would want to ask.
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When Israel’s prophets denounced the corruption of Israelite worship, they sought reform, not revolution. Though they vehemently criticized liturgicalism, they never attacked the liturgy. Though they railed against externalism and formalism, they never sought to remove the externals and forms God had instituted.
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God instituted the model of worship found in the Old Testament.
The worship of Israel was formal and liturgical. Solemn rites were central to the experience. The setting of temple worship was anything but casual. The meeting place had an ambiance of the solemn and the holy. The ritual was designed for drama. The literature and music were high and majestic. God inspired the content of songs (the Psalms). The finest craftsmen, who were filled by the Holy Spirit, fashioned the articles of art. God designed the vestments of the priests “for glory and for beauty” (Ex. 28:2).
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Numerous scholarly works suggest that the correspondence between Peter Martyr and John Calvin in 1555 is crucial for understanding Calvin's doctrine of union with Christ. Peter Martyr's letter was written to Calvin on March 8, 1555, and in it he expresses his own view and requests that Calvin explain his. Calvin's response is dated August 8, 1555. Calvin's response read in light of Martyr's letter reveals his understanding of our threefold union with Christ. Calvin distinguishes between what could be termed incarnational union, mystical union, and spiritual union
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I’ve written a handful of books on a variety of topics, and one thing that occasionally happens when you publish a book is that people ask you to sign it. I think of signing autographs as something that famous people do, so it feels a bit awkward to sign a book. I’m happy to do it, however. If you’ve written a Christian book, many people will want something in addition to your signature. They also ask for your favorite verse of Scripture. Many authors will write down a verse such as John 3:16 or Romans 8:28. My favorite verse of Scripture is Zephaniah 3:17.
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“A Good, Needed Book”
Several bloggers have taken time to read and review the new release from Reformation Trust Publishing, The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men, by the Rev. Richard D. Phillips. We thought you might enjoy and perhaps benefit from some of their comments:
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This was the great issue of the Reformation. Romanism and Protestantism were agreed on the other great essentials of faith: the Trinity, deity of Christ, His vicarious death, even the necessity of faith in Christ. The great and crucial difference came in answer to the question, “How is the sinner justified by Christ?” Romanism said, “By our works which flow from faith in Christ.” Protestantism said, “By faith in Christ alone.”
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Routine Grace, How Monotonous the Sound?
Sadly, that's the reality for many believers, too inured to the wonders of grace to live each day in utter amazement. This book by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson provides a fresh infusion of joy and wonder for believers who've fallen into the trap of taking God's undeserved riches for granted. Join Dr. Ferguson as he delves into God's Word and come away with a deeper understanding that can help enrich your faith--each and every day.
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You might be surprised to learn that Saint Andrew’s, the church where Dr. Sproul and I serve as pastors, has many members who have come from Pentecostal and charismatic churches. When they join our congregation I urge them not to leave behind the Holy Spirit. There seems to be a tendency for believers within some Presbyterian and Reformed churches to forget about the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Although historically this is not the case and although doctrinally it ought not to be the case, sadly it often seems to be the case.
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We are dealing now with a group of people who, apart from this doctrine, are genuinely orthodox. They have no doubt whatever that justification is by faith alone. And when they speak of justification, they mean the remission of sins by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the incarnate second person of the Godhead, who was born of the Virgin Mary, fulfilled the law on our behalf, was delivered up for our offenses, and rose again bodily for our justification.
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